Amalgamator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. R. HAMLIN 873 J. B. GONYEAU.

j AMALGAMATOR. No. 547,116. Patented Oct. 1, 1895.

Inventors,

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AN DREW a GRAHAM. PMQTOMYHQWASHINGTOND C (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. R. HAMLIN 8v J. B. GONYEAU. AMALGAMATOR.

No. 547,116. PatentedOct. 1, 189.5.

n ilnessealnvenzoz-sj UNTTED STATns PATENT Creme.

ADRIAN R. HAMLIN AND JOHN GCNYEAU, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AMALGANIATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,116, dated October1, 189 5.

Application filed June 8, 1895. Serial No. 552,124. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ADRIAN R. HAMLIN and JOHN B. GONYEAU, citizens ofthe United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Amalgamators; and we do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains tomake, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in amalgamators; and it consistsin the novel construction and arrangement of the parts whereby the dbrisand gold are thoroughly separated and the various particles subjected tothe amalgamating influences.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the delivery end.Fig.4 is a section taken on the lines X X of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of the amalgamating-trough. Fig. 6 is across-section of the amalgamating-trough. Fig. 7 is a longitudinalsection, in detail, of the amalgamating-trough to show the manner ofinsertion of extra amalgamating-plates.

The letter A designates the amalgamatingtrough. This trough is formed ofthe top, bottom, and two sides loosely placed together and held inposition by means of the straps A. The straps A enfold the sides of thetrough and terminate on one side with threaded ends, over which aperforated plate A extends. (See Fig. 6.) The purpose of thisconstruction exists in the ease and simplicity which it affords in theadjustment of the top andintermediateplates. Thisisaccomplished byeasing up on the top bolt-nuts, which releases the top of the trough andallows it to be forced down nearer the bottom plate or raised away fromit, as the case may be. The top and bottom are provided with corrugatedcopper-plate faces, the corrugations extending crosswise of the trough,and the corrugations of the top interlapping those of the bottom plate.By means of this interlapping of the plates any approximation of theplates may be attained. Atthe upper end this trough is provided withthehopper A the front of which is adjusted to admit of its being loweredto follow the top of the trough. This hopper is so placed as to receivethe tailings from a mill or the loose sand or dirt, when that class ofmaterial is treated. The trough A is swung in the frame X, upon thelever B and rod B, the latter of which is secured to the eye A oftheyoke A The yoke A engages the hooks A on one of the lower straps. Thisyoke has its sections connected by sleeves A designed to permit of theleveling of the trough by accordingly adjusting the sleeve at one or theother side, as circumstances may require, said sleeves, it may be, beinggotten up on the turnbuckle principle, as well understood. The rod 13'is secured in the top of the frame by means of a threaded end whichpasses through a metal plate let in the frame. A nut screwed on thethreaded end and jammed against the plate serves to lock the rod inposition. This construction permits the trough to have free play whilemaintaining it level.

At the upper end of the trough is attached the lever B. This lever isaxially mounted or fulcru med on the pin B which passes through the saidlever very near the end of the lever having the hook. The fulcrum B issupported by the plates B which are mounted on the frame X, as shown at-Fig. 2. The upper end of the lever extends to the top of the frame X,and is provided with the rounded shoe B Near the upper end, set in across-piece of the frame X, is the bumper B This bumper is a bolt, whichmay be advanced, thereby limiting the forward stroke of the lever B.ltis mounted in a threaded plate or socket in the crosspiece of theframe X, before mentioned.

The trough A is provided with the spring C, securely attached to thesaid trough and to the discharge end of the frame X. This spring may beof any suitable description, its office being to throw the troughforward toward the discharge end until the motion is arrested by reasonof the lever B striking the bumper B Extending across the top of theframe is the driving-shaft D, mounted on suitable journals,substantially as shown in Fig. 1. Mounted in the center of said shaft inthe path of the shoe B is the double-ended obliquely-faced cam ID. Thesecams are oppositely arranged and double in their action, the purpose ofwhich is to give to the shoe B on the lever B a backward and sidewardmovement with each stroke of each end of the double cam D. For thatpurpose the cams are arranged substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and4, where it will be seen that the ditferent ends strike upon thedifferent sides of the shoe B and by reason of their cam-shape in thetwo opposite directions they give to the said shoe alternately diiferentsidewise thrusts, while by reason of their lengthwise shape said shoe isforced backward by each. In the operation of this double cam against thesaid shoe it will be observed that the end of the lever having the shoeis alternately thrown backward and to either side of the center of.these cams in rapid succession as the driving-shaft D is rotated. Theoperation against the upper end of the lever operates against the spring0, which acts to throw the end of the lever having the shoe B back intothe path of the next succeeding cam after each impulse. It will now beobserved that by this action the trough is violently jerked back andforth, while at the same time a sidewise motion is imparted thereto,resembling the action of a miners pan or cradle.

The driving-shaft is driven by any suitable motive power, that shown inthe drawings being intended to receive the power from a steam-engineonto the drums E E and transmit through the shaft E the power to thepulley E and thence by means of the belt E to the pulley D on thedriving-shaft D.

In order to further impart to the trough A the shaking action, we haveplaced at the upper end in the frame X the butter E, against the head ofwhich the end of the trough strikes when it is thrown in that directionby the action of the cam D on the lever B.

\Vhen it is desired to augment the capacity of the trough A, we providefor this purpose the corrugated plates A as shown in Fig. 7. Theseplates rest upon the little brackets A secured in the sides of thetrough A. The corrugations on these plates are arranged as abovedescribed with reference to the bottom and top plates, so that thecorrugations will nest together. In its amalgamating action the amalgamrests in the bottoms of the corrugations of the various plates. Byreason of the shaking action above described and the incline which isgiven to the trough the material being treated is gradually carried fromone corrugation to the other, passing through the bottom of eachcorrugation over the crest of the rise between it and the next in itsprogress toward the delivering end of the trough. In this way thesegregated particles of the tailings or dirt are subjected to theamalgamating influence of the quicksilver contained in the depressedcorrugations. To insure the contact of all of the material being treatedand to prevent any fluffing over the filled corrugations, we provide themeans for bringing the plates closely together, as above described.

Having thus described this invention, what we claim is 1. In anamalgamator, the combination of the trough, suitably suspended at itsdischarge-end and suspended at its opposite or receiving end by theaxially pivoted or fulcrumed rod or lever carrying at its upper end arounded shoe, the double-ended and obliquely-faced cam, adapted toengage said shoe, means for carrying and rotating said cam, and a springadapted to return said lever to its former position after engagementwith said cam, substantially as set forth.

2. In an amalgamator, the combination of the trough having suitable,corrugated amalgamating plates, the suspending rod connected to a yokereceiving the hooks secured to one end of said trough, the axiallypivoted or fulcrumed rod or lever connected to the opposite end of saidtrough and armed at its upper end with a rounded shoe, the rotatableshaft carrying the double-ended, obliquely faced cam adapted to engagesaid shoe, and the spring adapted to return said trough and axiallypivoted lever to their normal position after the engagement of saidlever by said cam, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 16th day ofApril, 1805.

ADRIAN R. HAMLIN. JOHN B. GONYEAU. \Vitnesses:

E. F. MURnooK, J osnrr-r R. POWER.

